Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Saints Protection & Investigations Book 7) by Maryann Jordan Page B
Authors: Maryann Jordan
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that we’d have nothing to build upon.”
“And now?”
“The more time I spend with you, the more I really like you.” She sighed heavily again. “I felt conflicted…like I was in a battle with myself. The plans I had made with what was now in front of me that I wanted.”
Her fingers continued to play with his shirt, almost driving him to distraction, but he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to touch him…talk to him…confide in him.
“I called my mom this morning,” she confessed. She saw his lifted eyebrow and hastened to explain. “I told her about you. And I asked about my dad. About how it was for her to move and not put down roots.”
“What did she say?” he asked, curiosity overcoming his nervousness.
Boldly keeping her eyes on his, she said, “Mom loved dad. So she accepted everything about him. His deployments. The moves. Everything. She said she wouldn’t have had it any other way except to have him come home after his last tour.”
Patrick knew Evie was struggling with something profound and her actions spoke of this battle. Staring at the woman in his arms, he hoped she trusted him enough to reveal what was in her heart. Come on, baby. I need more. I need you to be sure.
“Mom told me that I always wanted to have my life planned out so I wouldn’t have any surprises, but she said it was all right to have adventures. Especially if you’re with someone you love.”
At the word love , he sucked in a breath and then saw the doubt pass through her eyes. “Keep talking, babe. Say whatever you need to say and I promise, I’m right here.”
Blushing, she admitted, “Well, I’m not saying that I love you…but…I really like you…a lot.”
Gliding his hands through her hair, he moved them to cup the sides of her head. “I’m glad, Evie. So fuckin’ glad to hear you say that.” He paused for a moment before prodding, “But I know there’s more. What happened today?”
Pushing off his lap, she began to pace the floor, her body needing to work off the emotions burning through her. “I’ve had almost seven hours to think about everything. I was so angry at first. How dare they? I was furious, livid, pissed off and wanted to kick some GMS butt!”
His lips curved ever so slightly at the emphatic threats his girl was making. His girl? Hell yeah! Whether or not she knew it…she was his girl.
“Then I was upset, thought about quitting, thought about playing nice and doing what they said, and then I was right back to being angry again.” She stopped pacing and turned sharply, facing him once more. “And then I thought about what my mom said this morning.”
Cocking his head to the side, he said nothing, simply allowing her the opportunity to come to her own conclusion.
“I’ve been battling the feelings I have for you. The ones you want to build on, but I wanted to stay safe more than take a chance. I thought if I stayed in one place, then I’d be safe. I’d be happy. I thought I’d be in control.” Shrugging while throwing her hands up to the side, she added, “But today showed me that no matter how much I plan…life changes all around me. So, I either let it just happen to me or I decide to come out of my safe zone myself and take some chances.”
Standing, Patrick stalked over to Evie, stopping when his polished, military shoes met her tiny toes. Towering over her, he reached up to cup her soft face, seeing her eyes search his. “Baby, I promise, I’ll always be a safe place for you. You decide to take a chance…I’ll be your safe harbor and your adventure. You decide to build on this friendship and I’ll tell you, I’m already with you. You decide to fall, Evie girl…I’ll always catch you.”
Leaning into his hand, she closed her eyes as the warmth of his palm caressed her face. She felt his other hand come to rest on her waist, gently pulling in so that her body leaned against him. And she made the choice to fall.
* * *
Patrick
“And now?”
“The more time I spend with you, the more I really like you.” She sighed heavily again. “I felt conflicted…like I was in a battle with myself. The plans I had made with what was now in front of me that I wanted.”
Her fingers continued to play with his shirt, almost driving him to distraction, but he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to touch him…talk to him…confide in him.
“I called my mom this morning,” she confessed. She saw his lifted eyebrow and hastened to explain. “I told her about you. And I asked about my dad. About how it was for her to move and not put down roots.”
“What did she say?” he asked, curiosity overcoming his nervousness.
Boldly keeping her eyes on his, she said, “Mom loved dad. So she accepted everything about him. His deployments. The moves. Everything. She said she wouldn’t have had it any other way except to have him come home after his last tour.”
Patrick knew Evie was struggling with something profound and her actions spoke of this battle. Staring at the woman in his arms, he hoped she trusted him enough to reveal what was in her heart. Come on, baby. I need more. I need you to be sure.
“Mom told me that I always wanted to have my life planned out so I wouldn’t have any surprises, but she said it was all right to have adventures. Especially if you’re with someone you love.”
At the word love , he sucked in a breath and then saw the doubt pass through her eyes. “Keep talking, babe. Say whatever you need to say and I promise, I’m right here.”
Blushing, she admitted, “Well, I’m not saying that I love you…but…I really like you…a lot.”
Gliding his hands through her hair, he moved them to cup the sides of her head. “I’m glad, Evie. So fuckin’ glad to hear you say that.” He paused for a moment before prodding, “But I know there’s more. What happened today?”
Pushing off his lap, she began to pace the floor, her body needing to work off the emotions burning through her. “I’ve had almost seven hours to think about everything. I was so angry at first. How dare they? I was furious, livid, pissed off and wanted to kick some GMS butt!”
His lips curved ever so slightly at the emphatic threats his girl was making. His girl? Hell yeah! Whether or not she knew it…she was his girl.
“Then I was upset, thought about quitting, thought about playing nice and doing what they said, and then I was right back to being angry again.” She stopped pacing and turned sharply, facing him once more. “And then I thought about what my mom said this morning.”
Cocking his head to the side, he said nothing, simply allowing her the opportunity to come to her own conclusion.
“I’ve been battling the feelings I have for you. The ones you want to build on, but I wanted to stay safe more than take a chance. I thought if I stayed in one place, then I’d be safe. I’d be happy. I thought I’d be in control.” Shrugging while throwing her hands up to the side, she added, “But today showed me that no matter how much I plan…life changes all around me. So, I either let it just happen to me or I decide to come out of my safe zone myself and take some chances.”
Standing, Patrick stalked over to Evie, stopping when his polished, military shoes met her tiny toes. Towering over her, he reached up to cup her soft face, seeing her eyes search his. “Baby, I promise, I’ll always be a safe place for you. You decide to take a chance…I’ll be your safe harbor and your adventure. You decide to build on this friendship and I’ll tell you, I’m already with you. You decide to fall, Evie girl…I’ll always catch you.”
Leaning into his hand, she closed her eyes as the warmth of his palm caressed her face. She felt his other hand come to rest on her waist, gently pulling in so that her body leaned against him. And she made the choice to fall.
* * *
Patrick
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